‘You guys are the heroes in this project. Those who sacrifice and give and show up on Wednesday nights with shovels.’Pastor Bob Holt was referring to his congregation as Christ the King Church held a ground-breaking ceremony May 24 for its new 18,400-square-foot Family Life Center on W. Drahner Road.
Many in crowd, both young and old, brought their own shovels to the ceremony to scoop a few clumps of symbolic earth.
‘Our mission says it’s our intent to glorify God by reconciling people to His plan and purpose for their lives,? Holt told th crowd. ‘We believe this new Family Life Center we’re building will serve to carry on our mission not only for this present generation, but for future generations as well.?
The Family Life Center will be a multipurpose facility with a gymnasium suitable for sporting activities for all ages, space to host banquets and wedding receptions, full-size stage and auditorium for drama and music productions as well as an interim sanctuary for worship services capable of housing about 900 people.
Holt told this reporter the project is the realization of ‘something the whole congregation has talked about and wanted to do.?
‘We see the need for it and we see a dream becoming a reality,? he said. ‘It’s pretty gratifying.?
The church’s current buildings offer a combined 15,000 square feet so with the new Family Life Center, Holt said, ‘We’re more than doubling our size,?
Christ the King’s current sanctuary is capable of holding about 375 people. With a congregation of just under 1,000 people, the church conducts multiple worship services every week.
There are future plans to build a new larger sanctuary, but that’s Phase II.
It’s estimated it will take approximately 11 months to construct the new Family Life Center and cost about $3.2 million. So far, Holt said the church has about $2.3 million saved in the bank, plus another $497,000 in pledges from a recent fund-raising campaign.
Christ the King’s been saving up for the center since April 2003 and Holt said all the money has ‘pretty much (come) from our congregation? via donations and various fund-raisers.
‘We’re attempting to build this building without going into financial debt,? Holt told the crowd. ‘If any of you visiting tonight have an extra $200,000 or $300,000 laying around you’d like to contribute, we can help you get a great tax deduction.?
But Holt made it clear it’s not about the dollars and cents, it’s about Christ the King continuing to use its land for the glory of God and betterment of the community.
When the 40-acres on Long Lake was originally donated to the Fort Street Presbyterian Church in Detroit in the early 1900s, Holt said, ‘the land was dedicated to be used for the glory of God and for over 50 years this property was used as an up-north summer camp for children.?
In the 1960s, the land became ‘dormant and unused? until it was put up for sale in the early 1980s.
That’s when Pastor Wes Peterson and his newly-planted church in Lake Orion put in a bid on the property.
‘Although probably much lower than the other bids,? Holt explained. ‘Ford to Street accepted their bid in part, we think, because they wanted the land to stay in the family and to be used for the purposes of the church.?
In December 1986, Christ the King held its first service on the property. In October 1987, the church merged with New Line Chapel in Rochester, of which Holt was pastor. Following Peterson’s retirement in September 1990, Holt became senior pastor.
Recounting and reflecting on this history, Holt said, ‘I believe our mission today at Christ the King is consistent with the original intentions of Ford Street Presbyterian in that we too have dedicated our ministry and this land to the glory of God.?
Beyond the spiritual realm, Holt said the church hopes to use it’s new Family Life Center to ‘bridge with the community,? which he described as ‘a great place to live.?
‘It’s our desire to partner with our community in serving the people of Lake Orion and Oxford,? he said.
Allowing the community to use the new gym for sporting activities involving people of all ages is just one example of this.
‘They’re always looking for extra facilities, we might be able to work with the parks and rec. to make it available to our community,? Holt said. the glory of God.?
Beyond the spiritual realm, Holt said the church hopes to use it’s new Family Life Center to ‘bridge with the community,? which he described as ‘a great place to live.?
‘It’s our desire to partner with our community in serving the people of Lake Orion and Oxford,? he said.
Allowing the community to use the new gym for sporting activities involving people of all ages is just one example of this.
‘They’re always looking for extra facilities, we might be able to work with the parks and rec. to make it available to our community,? Holt said.